Teller

Teller was known primarily as a magician and illusionist, with an enduring screen and stage career alongside his partner Penn Jillette as Penn & Teller. Friends and performing partners since 1974, their relationship as Penn & Teller was solidified in 1981 and the pair worked steadily thereafter. Along with regular appearances performing magic tricks and illusions on late-night talk shows, Penn and Teller's projects included a fictional feature - the last film by renowned director Arthur Penn - called "Penn & Teller Get Killed" (1989), as well as the documentary series "Penn & Teller's Magical Mystery Tour" (CBC/Channel 4 2013), and the long-running "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" (Showtime 2003-2010), in which the pair debunked popular myths in the style of one of their idols, magician and skeptic James Randi. The pair also guested in a number of series, in character or as themselves, including "Babylon 5" (Syndicated 1994-98), "The West Wing" (NBC 1999-2006) and "The Simpsons" (Fox 1989- ). Their appearances on the last show mark one of the few times Teller ever spoke while in character; on stage, the diminutive illusionist remained mute, relying on facial expressions and movement while his taller partner handled all the stage patter. Born Raymond Joseph Teller in Philadelphia in 1948, he legally changed his name to simply Teller as an adult. His behind-the-scenes work included writing an off-Broadway stage show for fellow magician Todd Robbins, "Play Dead" (2010). In 2014, Teller directed the documentary "Tim's Vermeer," a film about inventor Tim Jenison's fascination with and attempts to replicate the work of Dutch Old Master Johannes Vermeer.